This sample resource pack for KS1 is designed to complement the Raintree book Ernest Shackleton and offers engaging activities to develop key literacy and cross-curricular skills for KS1 pupils.
The resource pack combines literacy, history and computing activities to help pupils understand Shackleton’s remarkable achievements.
It supports teamwork, creativity and skill-building while bringing history and non-fiction literacy to life. It’s perfect for inspiring curiosity and active learning in your KS1 classroom.
Ernest Shackleton KS1 activities
Year 1 and Year 2 literacy activities
- Introduce pupils to non-fiction texts, helping them explore features like glossaries, headings, and indexes.
- Activities include scanning for information, making notes and writing labels, lists, captions and extended sentences.
- Pupils are encouraged to create their own captions, practise sequencing events and produce a recount of Shackleton’s life.
- Year 1 focus: Writing simple sentences using capital letters, full stops, and connectives.
- Year 2 focus: Writing detailed recounts with correct sequence, compound sentences and consistent tense.
One-hour critical skills literacy lesson
Pupils learn about Shackleton through non-fiction texts and create group A3 posters for a display. These activities emphasise teamwork, creativity and literacy skills.
Outcomes:
- Year 1: Pupils write simple sentences with correct punctuation.
- Year 2: Pupils recount events with detail, using compound sentences and accurate tense.
History topic
- Activities to build historical enquiry skills, focusing on Shackleton’s life and expeditions.
- Pupils learn about his significance, sequence events and explore conditions in Antarctica.
- Tasks include using maps, analysing pictures and inferring information about Shackleton’s challenges.
Computing links
Pupils use ICT to research Shackleton, create presentations and organise information into timelines or multimedia displays.
